Diane Sawyer - Appalachian Special

[Marigold2]

I understand where all of you are coming from I do. I know I sound harsh and by NO means want anyone to think that I for one second believe that all people are like that. My respect to all who try to improve their life.
As for depression, I have a two children on medication for depression. One I gave birth to and one I didn't. I know how hard it is to live with a depressed person on a daily basis. You can take you meds and make bad choices, or take your meds and make good ones. Every person has demons, problems of one sort or another and we all need to step up to the plate and make the best of each day, it's not easy but it's the only sane thing to do. Feeling sorry for oneself helps no one. Helping others is a great way to beat depression especially helping our fur children.
By stating that they have a TV they see and hear the latest news, weather, spots, gossip, policts etc. CNN, Animal Planet, NASA, History, Jay Leno, Baseball etc..some would have to have cable especially in those way out places otherwise they would no get reception. It's not as if they have never seen a car, a phone, a TV. This is America and education is free, most I would hope have been to elementary school and beyond.
In fact they can get just about everything for free.
Medicaid pays for their eye care, health, dental. Food stamps pay for food. Hud of other such agencies pay for low cost or free housing. They would get free monies for college or trade school, lunches would be free for the small kids. The government pays for their children be given all shots, healthcare, therapy etc. Therapy is free for the adults. Most if not all medicians are free. Their utilities will also be picked up partly by the government.
They recieve no bill for having one or 10 kids if on Medicaid.
The library is free to all, they offer classes.
Hospitals have classes free.
Transportion is also provided in some areas by the hospital for appointments.. Lets see what other free-be have I forgotten?
But I am sure you get my point. There is help out there. But they have to want it, they have to ask if not for themselves but for their children so their lives can be better. No one should live in proverty. I can see one generation being poor, but not the second or the third. Grandchildren should not be as uneducated as the grandparents. Each and every generation should improve on the last. Every parent I have ever met wants their child to have it better then they did. To not learn and grow and improve is unexcepable in America and frankly its a slap in the face to all the people who fought for this country to make it better. Every soldier, every immigrant who came here and fought for jobs and a better living condition for their children. They are all heros and I am sure some suffered from depression but the job had to get done and they did it. I don't know any man from that time who laid in bed all day and felt sorry for himself or any woman. They were out there working and making America a great land.
Mary you spoke about your hard working dad. I hear the pride in your words. You and your brothers and sisters are better educated they he, and perhaps you son is more then you. It's how it should be. Your dad worked hard for you, and these people need to do the same.
It's time we stopped making excuses for people and expect them to pull their own weight. The less we demand of them the less they will do.
They are adults, act like it.

[Pam]

I am just speechless after reading Marigold's reply.

[caseysmom]

I am just speechless after reading Marigold's reply.

I think that shock is the intent so I don't put much weight on it.

[kokopup]

Marigold, You do not have a clue. You are totally out of touch with reality. All of the services you speak of are not even available in an urban setting, much less the most remote mountain areas where these people live. I really understand why your kids would be on antidepressants. You are in a world of your own.

[Cataholic]

Marigold,
You do not know of which you speak. I have said it before, and thought it many, many times concerning your posts. It bears repeating here. Your posts are so full of anger and bitterness, and so lacking of the characteristics like sympathy and empathy. I wonder what went so horribly wrong in your 'pick yourself up by your bootstraps' upbringing that it left you so inhumane towards others. It is nearly as if you are afraid to show compassion towards others lest it make you less of a person, or somehow take away from the reality of your parents and grandparents. It is just so sad to read your posts.

[Medusa]

I really understand why your kids would be on antidepressants. You are in a world of your own.

Not nice. Or fair either. Marigold shared an intimate part of her life by revealing this in the thread. We can make our points w/out insult; otherwise it's a slippery slope from discussion into argument and then nobody learns anything because we just go back and forth defending our positions.

[Marigold2]

That was very unkind. To make a remark about one's children being depressed......... That is about as low as anyone can get. My child was born with depression and stuggles everyday with it and we the family do as well.

Marigold, You do not have a clue. You are totally out of touch with reality. All of the services you speak of are not even available in an urban setting, much less the most remote mountain areas where these people live. I really understand why your kids would be on antidepressants. You are in a world of your own.

[K9soul]

Kokopup apologized for her remark, and I think she was right to. But it's a bit ironic to read the outrage in your reply after extremely harsh and insensitive posts I have seen you make towards other people.

[Marigold2]

Well it was nice of her to apologize(thank you) but it was still a crappy remark and it was a direct hit against my kids and if there is one thing that I will defend and fight for is my kids, I am a lioness when it comes to them. They are not here to speak up for themselves so I will, it's what a mom does.

Kokopup apologized for her remark, and I think she was right to. But it's a bit ironic to read the outrage in your reply after extremely harsh and insensitive posts I have seen you make towards other people.

[K9soul]

I understand your defense of them and I would feel the same; I just wish you could extend some of that empathy that you have for your kids and those close to you to others around you, too. I'm sure your child who suffers from depression has had some major trials and probably has been judged by other people.

You've implied these people are just lazy or simply don't want 'better' for their children enough to turn things around based off what you saw on a television show. It's no more right than someone making statements about your child's depression and the reasons for it. At least that is how I see it.

[kokopup]

The apology was made to you Marigold not to your kids. The comment I made was never directed at them in the first place.

Although kokopup is a female dog the person writing these post is Male.
Maybe I need to change my handle to "Kokopup' dad"

[pomtzu]

Kokopup apologized for her remark, and I think she was right to. But it's a bit ironic to read the outrage in your reply after extremely harsh and insensitive posts I have seen you make towards other people.

"She" is a "he"!.

[K9soul]

"She" is a "he"!.

Sorry about that Koko .

[Marigold2]

Back to social services for this is a concern. Aren't these services health, education, Medicaid, etc dictated by the state? Did any of these people go to elemantary school? Did they have a school principal or teacher to give the child and parents a helping hand as to what and where these programs are? I can see this being a problem in 1829 but not 2009. Aren't schools responsible for attendence? Or police for that matter if a child doesn't show up for class? Wouldn't a teacher ask about that child? Notice the child is hungry? Isn't there a free lunch program for these kids? That is state mandated I believe. Aren't their births recorded? School records recorded? Yes some will fall through the cracks but most should not. Most of these kids look like they have been to school and if they have they are eligible for social services. Teachers, pastors, social workers these all need to help and get involved and last, you can lead a horse to water but after that he is on his own. These are questions that should be asked and answers sought, not just pushed under the rug. What about the mayor, the governor, the chief of police, the church leaders do they not get involved or are they just overwelmed?
And no I am not bitter, I am practical. Each generation should improve on the last, otherwise we would all be living in caves. After all the Eyptains had flusing toliets 5 thousand years ago.

[Daisy and Delilah]

Back to social services for this is a concern. Aren't these services health, education, Medicaid, etc dictated by the state? Did any of these people go to elemantary school? Did they have a school principal or teacher to give the child and parents a helping hand as to what and where these programs are? I can see this being a problem in 1829 but not 2009. Aren't schools responsible for attendence? Or police for that matter if a child doesn't show up for class? Wouldn't a teacher ask about that child? Notice the child is hungry? Isn't there a free lunch program for these kids? That is state mandated I believe. Aren't their births recorded? School records recorded? Yes some will fall through the cracks but most should not. Most of these kids look like they have been to school and if they have they are eligible for social services. Teachers, pastors, social workers these all need to help and get involved and last, you can lead a horse to water but after that he is on his own. These are questions that should be asked and answers sought, not just pushed under the rug. What about the mayor, the governor, the chief of police, the church leaders do they not get involved or are they just overwelmed?
And no I am not bitter, I am practical. Each generation should improve on the last, otherwise we would all be living in caves. After all the Eyptains had flusing toliets 5 thousand years ago.

I take this entire post as a person asking good questions. Questions you're asking because you don't understand what the problem is.
That is my point. You don't know these people, you haven't visited these people and you don't know what's right/wrong for these people.

You continue to group them together with the national standard. They are not the national standard. What else can I say?